that mightily afflicted the Papacie and consequently advanced the Reformation in her proceedings was a course in my opinion surely more excusable where it cannot than commendable where it can be spared and that is the Discoverie of the private blotts of an enemie farther than the question in hand constraineth Howsoever the Protestants at leastwise sundry of them by example of those ancient renowmed Oratours ripped up to the quicke the liues of theyr adversaries in theyr particular actions especially of the Popes and of theyr Praelates as also of theyr Votaries of all sorts and sexes Wherein the store of matter was so huge the qualitie of it so enormous loathsome and ougly matchable in all kind of vâ—llanie to the veriest monsters of the Heathen the persons defiled with it of so eminent place in the steering and upholding of theyr Church and lastly the truth thereof so undoubted and certeine being drawne for the times past out of theyr owne stories and authors printed and approved among them selues to be true for that present being of things done ordinarily for the most part and openly in the fight of all men at Rome and in Italy even as they continue perhaps not much better in many things at this very day that the publishing and presenting it to the prepared minds of the world besides an extreame horror and detestation which it brought did worke in them this perswasion also that it could not be but Hell-gates had prevailed against that Sea whose Governours whose Praelates whose Priests whose Virgins had lived most of them so long time in the very jawes of the Prince of Hell neyther that it was probable they had beene carefull in preserving the doctrine of Christianitie who had beene so carelesse of all parts of Christian life and honestie And as in their liues so in theyr writings also of doctrine and devotion and in their actions concerning them theyr deifying of the Pope with most impious flatterie theyr abusing of the Scriptures with all irreverence and prophanitie theyr jugling in theyr Images to make them weepe sweat and bleed to rayse in the people a devotion towards them of Heathenish Idolatrie theyr forging of miracles in exorcismes in cures in apparition of soules for theyr Lucre and advantage theyr graunting of pardons to some Prayers before Images for XXX thousand long yeeres theyr pardons for sinnes to come before they bee committed their shamelesse and ridiculous tales of our Saviour and theyr Saincts making marriages here vpon earth betweene him and some of theyr women-Saincts with infinite childish vanitie and sottish absurditie as to theyr adversaries it seemed though themselues I must confesse conceiue otherwise of them some of theyr graver Doctors both preaching them still in Pulpit and publishing them newly in ample and elaborate hystories their promising to the use of certeine devotions to our Lady to haue a sight of her some time before theyr dying-dayes adding to this and much more theyr falsifying and forgerie in all matters of antiquitie thrusting in cutting out suppressing true suborning feyned writings as theyr turnes did require all which though beeing in this sort unto them they had eyther theyr allegations of good intents to defend or at leastwise theyr commiserations of humane infirmitie to excuse them yet were they not so washed away from the minds of the people who could not conceiue this house to haue beene guided by the spirit of God wherein they saw so many foule spirits of Pride and Hypocrisie of lying and deceiving to haue borne so great office so long and without controllment These things being perceived by the favourites of the Papacie to haue made so deepe impression in the hearts of all men and to haue greatly praejudiced them in theyr more plausible allegations mens hearts beeing aheady taken up and fraught with detesting them they haue cast about for revenge and redresse in the same kind not as the plaine blunt Protestant who finding all his matter made ready to his hands bestowed no other cost but the collecting and setting it in some order together but like a supernaturall artisan who in the sublimitie of his refined and refining wit disdaines to bring onely meere art to his worke unlesse hee make also in some sort the very matter it selfe so these men in blacking the liues and actions of the Reformers haue partly devised matter of so notorious vntruth that in the better sort of theyr owne wryters it happens to bee checked partly suborned other postmen to compose theyr Legends that afterwards they might cite them in proofe to the world as approued authors and hystories as is evident in the liues of CALVIN and BEZA written by theyr sworne enemie BOLSACK the twice banished and thrice renegate Fryer and Physitian for those names his often changes and hard chaunces haue given him This man being requested by theyr side to write thus is now in all theyr writings alleaged as classicall and Canonicall But in this kind surely me thinks the conditions of these parties are too too unequall For the Protestant whatsoever he say eyther in impeaching his adversarie or clearing his owne actions unlesse he can directly proue it out of the adversaries owne writings it is with them as nothing and no better than are Testes domestici in the Law whereas the Romanist whatsoever he sclaunderously surmiseth unles the other partie be able by direct prouf to disproue it which being to justifie the negatiue is always very difficult and for the most part impossible hee triumphs as in a matter of truth not to be gain-said and howsoever makes his accompt that in these kinds of blowes even where the wound is cured the skar lightly continueth At this present they giue out that they haue a booke in hand of the liues of the Ministers of England amongst whom it were to be wished that some who by their examples in dissolutenesse and corruption haue given occasion of offence against the Order it selfe might by theyr exemplarie punishment withall expiate the reproach Though at these mens hands who in disgrace of our Praelats haue cited MARPRELATE in theyr late books for a graue Author and witnesse and others of like and lesse indifferencie and honestie the innocent and culpable are to expect perhaps like measure Then for the writings and doctrine of the Protestants the books of some of our owne Country-men besides many other are famous who haue taken a toyle how meritorious God knowes surely very laborious out of infinite huge volumes which that part hath written to pick out whatsoever especially severed from the rest may seem to be either absurdly or falsly or fondly or scandalously or dishonestly or passionatly or sluttishly conceived or written for even in that kind hauing the advantage of the homely phrase of one Country and namely in those times they haue not spared and these with theyr crossings and contradictings one of an other set cunningly together they present to the vieu of the world and demaund whether it be likely
long usage and observed by many The same also though not in the same high degree they haue wrought and do still work in those Realms which acknowledge theyr Romane Supremacie by the ordinarie Bishops and other Praelats advaunced in them Who on the one side having sworne obedience to the Pope on the other side having voice in the high Courts of Parliament as representing the first of the three estates of the Kingdoms and otherwise also employed in weightiest affaires haue caried them selues with that doublenesse in their two fold dutie as that still the Popes greatnesse hath bene upheld to their utmost power For which cause some States as the Venetians by name to countermine that foreine policie with an inward provision whensoever any of their Gentlemen set foot into that course they dismisse them thence-forward even from those graund Counsells whereinto theyr very byrth right and Familie did giue them entrance But Iewells are rare and for few mens wearing Such are the honours of Cardinals being made Kings Companions The multitude and diversitie of men of spirit and qualitie requireth store also and Uarietie of competent Preferments to enterteine them with in good content and correspondence a thing in all States very necessarie and chiefe regard Wherein although the Papacie may seeme at the first blush to haue no furniture extraordinary aboue other Princes saue onely in one kind for men of Ecclesiasticall calling by which he is able to advaunce men of learning incomparably aboue any other Prince in the world as having well-nigh all the Bishopricks and Abbeys in Italy with other Church-livings almost halfe the benefices in Spain very many Ecclesiasticall praeferments of all sorts in other Countries at his bestowing yet if we looke into the use practise of these times it will well appeare that even by Ecclesiasticall Livings â—ee partly accommodateth and partly suffers as by his Grace to be accomodated all professions and ages though neither fit nor very capable of ecclesiasticall order what by dispensations or tolerations to be administrators of Abbeys Bishopricks and other benefices as is used in France what as in Italy Spain by assignations of yeerly pensions out of their revenues which being so great as there they are they may easily and having hope of expiring they may contentedly beare And most of this out of the dominions and territories of other Princes and without any charging or impoverishing of his own A choise and refined piece of high quintessence of witt which never yet any State could so distill their braines as to aspire to besides the Papacie To let passe the infinite number of honours and livings what Ecclesiasticall what subordinate and ministeriall to them and what also in part temporall as belonging to the knights of the holy orders which are many all which although not directly in his owne donation yet in that they haue their right either grounded upon or greatly favoured and continued by his Religion and in the decay of that as experience hath shewed were likely also to quaile are strong props to the upholding of the glorie of the Papacie arming so many tongues and hands in the defence thereof as either are or haue hope to be advanced by it and each drawing his kinred friends and followers with him A sweet enchaunter and deceiver of men is the hope of honour and worldly profit which â—ulling oft even in the better sort the Conscience a sleepe doth awaken withall and sharpen the wit to find out arguments for the proving of that conclusion which affection before-hand hath framed and by custome and continuance engendreth in them a perswasion that they haue done well in that which at the first their owne knowledge could say was otherwise How powerfully then may it sway with that other sort of men whose belly being their God maketh their appetite their sole Religion which if the experience of former times haue not sufficiently affirmed it were to be wished perhaps that more fresh proofe might haue bene given therof once againe in this Kingdome of France where some of the wisest and chiefe haue thought that if the King should accord to the Clergies late supplication to bestow Church livings upon fit men and onely of Ecclesiasticall calling those Princes and Peers which now in regard of that particular commoditie which they reap from the Church in termes it standeth haue unsheathed their swords in defence thereof would soone turne them another way to the utter razing of it that they might satisfie their greedines with the spouse of that State whose pay they could no longer haue But for the Clergie themselues who are in all places under the Papacie great in number and power they are most firmely assured to that Sea what by the multitude of exemptions and Prerogatiues aboue the Temporaltie which under the Popes protection they securely enjoy what with expecting of no other than utter saccage and ruine if the opposites of the Pope should happen to prevaile so undiscreet and violent hath bene their cariage in most places where they haue beene able either to bring or pull in also their Reformation Yea herein also it hath befallen as in some other things that not only casuall but euen meere crosse accidents haue redounded to the Popes great advantage benefit this great part which in this age hath bene raised against him having wrought this effect to make the rest more firme more serviceable and more zealous towards him In so much that whereas in Fraunce in former times he was smally regarded of any but stomacked at by the Princes impeached abridged and appealed from by the Praelates and lastly either despised or neglected by the people the hatred and rancour conceived against his adversaries which being first kindled by eagernesse of opposition is now by long continuance therein most strongly settled haue produced effects of cleane contrary nature the Princes and Cities haue joyned in holy league for the vpholding of him the people with all furie haue raged haue â—ought against haue murdered and massacred his opposites in all places and the Clergie of Fraunce which heretofore hath withstood him in many better Councels doth now call mainely for his late Councell of Trent rejected over all the world saving Spaine and Italy to be admitted and established over all that Kingdome A Councell of all other most servile and partiall to him and caried by him with such infinite guile and craft without any sincerity upright dealing or truth as that themselues will even smile in the triumph of their owne witts when they heare it but mentioned as at a Master stratagem Yea so strongly hath this opposition fastned his Clergie to him that the name of a generall Councell is now the most plausible which in former times was the most fearefull thing to him in the world and whereunto hee was never brought with any better good-will than an old bitten Beare is drawne to the stake to be bayted by his enemies who dare tug him in
Companie at whom in single they scarce durst bake so powerfull is the nature of all opposition to encrease despiâ—e and hatred against the enemy and to make friends especially those that are interessed in the same cause to cleaue more close together Yea rather so wise is the ever admirable Creator even in all his works of what nature soever as to temper the very accidents of the life of man with such proportion counterpoise that no prosperitie without his inconvenience no adversitie without his comfort to chase out of mans life Securitie and Despaire the onely enemies of all vertuous and honourable courses To each thing hath the goodnesse of that wise Architect imparted a peculiar badge of honour that nothing should be despiceable in the Eyes of other The Prince in Majestie and soveraigntie of power the Nobilitie in wisdome and dominatiue vertue together with the instruments thereof as Riches Reputation Allies and followers and the people in their multitude are respectable and honourable Which Multitude being of so great consequence in matter of State the policie of the Papacie hath in no wise neglected but provided both reasonable enterteinment for them and fit means also to practise and worke upon them Here come in those heaps of theyr Religious Orders that multitude of Friers which abound in all places but wherewith Italy aboue all doth swarme A race of people in former times Honourable in their holinesse now for the most part contemptible in their wickednesse and miserie always praying but with seldom signe of devotion vowing obedience and still contentious chastitie but yet most luxurious povertie yet every where scraping and covetous Which I speake not of them all there being many among them of singular pietie and devotion in their way but of the farre greater part as they are generally reputed where-ever I haue bene But to returne to the ayd which the Papacie doth reap from them The onely contentfull care that the ordinary sort of men entertein in this World is in Providing for their Children to leaue them in good estate and not inferiour but rather aboue their auncestours which those that haue many being not able to performe for all it is a great ease to them and such an ease as even Princes and great Peeres them selues some times disdaine not but are rather glad of to discharge their hands of some of them especially of such as by disgrace or defect of nature are eyther more backward or lesse louely than other at an easie and small rate and yet with honourable pretence namely by consecrating them wholly to the service of the Creatour and providing an higher place for them in his coelestiall Kingdome For such is their opinion of these orders of religious and Angelicall perfection as they usuall style them the Friers also them selues hauing names given them by their Governours each according to his meritts importing no lesse and as they encrease in their holinesse so proceeding in their titles from Padre Benedetto to Padre Angelo then Archangelo Cerubino and lastly Seraphino which is the top of perfection But for their owne high conceipt of their perfection and meritts this example may serue I haue heard one of their most reverend Capuchins for zeale sanctitie and learning preaching in principall place before the Bishop in sharpe reproof of the forsaken crew of blasphemoâ—s Gamesters pray solemnly to God though acknowledging him selfe first in humilitie a great sinner by his meritts and discipline by the teares which his Eys had often shed by the chastisement which with his cord hee had often given him selfe by those many sharp voyages which for the loue of God hee had made because they did grieue Animam pauperis which was him selfe that if there were any which should still notwithstanding his admonitions persist in that wicked gamestrie hee would strike them ere that day twelue-moneth with some markable punishment The same man another time in an extasie of Charitie calling God all his Angels and Saincts to witnesse it to strip him selfe of all his meritts though few hee acknowledged before the little Crucifix there embracing and kissing it and to pray it to reward them upon his dearly beloved Auditorie for whose sakes hee was content also to be reputed the greatest sinner of all the assemblie Such being their perfection then the desiring it must needs issue from an honourable affection Now although the Italian being a thriftie menager doe in his heart greatly repine at a Custome of theyr Nunneries haue of late brought uppe being indeed constrained to it by the excessiue multitude which in the former respect are thrust upon them which is not to receiue any gentleman or merchants daughter without a dowrie of two hundred Crownes and fifteene or twentie Crownes yeerly pension during her life and tenne Crownes yeerly rent to theyr house for ever neyther admitt they of any mean mans daughter without some Crowns also in name of a dowrie at theyr Spirituall mariage to GOD and those shall be but serving-Nunnes to the former yet finding of two charges this farre the easier they are content to swallow down that which by champing-on they cannot remedie But the orders of religious men bring them an other ease also It disburdeneth their Country of an infinit number of discontented humors and despayring passions Whosoever in his dearest loues hath prooved unfortunate whosoever cannot prosper in some other profession which hee hath been set to whomsoever any notable disgrace or other crosse in his estate hath bereaved of all hope of ever rising in this world whosoever by his miscariage hath purchased so many enemies as that nothing but his bloud can giue satisfaction to theyr malice all these and many other reduced to like anguish of mind and distresse or otherwise howsoever out of tast with the world haue this haven of content always open and at hand â—o flee to when they can find no other place of repose to stand-on then resolue they to go Friers as they phrase it Yea whosoever by his monstrous Blasphemie or other like villanie hath deserved all the tortures and deaths in the world if before the hand of Iustice lay hold upon him hee voluntarily professe him selfe a Capuchine or Hermite or of such like strict Order the Pope doth forbid any further pursuit as thinking his voluntary perpetuall penance sufficient and of this sort is the greatest part of their gentlemen Capuchins for so are the most of that order by byrth Neither is this religious life saue in some very few orders so severed from the world and the commodities thereof but that it enjoyeth as many contents as a moderate mind need wish and immoderate affections can find means also to satisfie them selues at pleasure in summe they are rather discharged of the toyles and cares then debarred of the comforts and solaces of this life Neither is there almost so meane a Frier among them that hath not some hope to be Prior of his Convent and then perhaps Provinciall
that these men should haue bene chosen extraordinarily by God to be the Reformers of the Church and restorers of his truth who besides theyr vicious liues and hatefull conditions in their more sober thoughts and very doctrine it selfe were possessed with so phantasticall so wild so contrarie so furious so maledicent and so slovenly spirits Wherein as they do in some sort imitate theyr adversaries so yet with this difference that the one hath objected that which eyther as being the approved doctrine of theyr Church was with publike authoritie delivered unto the people or else which was so usuall amongst their Canonâ—sts and Clergie as might plead uncontrolled custome to shew it lawfull Whereas the other part finding belike small store of that nature haue run for supply to every particular mans writings wherein in â—â— huge a multitude of authors and works as in this over-ranke age mens fingers over-itching haue produced it had bene surely a great Miracle if they should not haue found matter enough eyther worthy to be blamed or easie to be depraved in theyr enemies writings one of the most renowmed sages and Fathers of the auncient having found so much to condemne and retract in his owne And if the Protestants should list to requite them in that kind they might perhaps find stuffe enough I will not say as one doth to load an Argosie but to over-lade any mans witt in the world to reply to But verily these courses are base and beggerly even when singlenesse of mind truth doth concurre with them and farre unworthy of an ingenuous and noble spirit which soreth up to the highest and purest paths of veritie disdaining to stand raking in these puddles of obscaenitie unworthy of that charitable and vertuous mind which striveth by doing good to all to attain the high honour of being an imitator of God which is sory of those very thoughts that infect his enemie and discloseth them no farther than is necessarie eyther for defence of impugned truth or for warning unto the world to avoid the contagion of the disease or seducement by the dangerously and unapparently diseased But if to this basenesse of discoveries other injustice be also added if mâ—lice preferre them if sleight encrease them if falshood and sclaunder taint them then do they not only abase men from the dignitie of theyr nature but even associate them with the soule enemie and calumniator thereof whose name is the sclaunderous accuser of his brethren I suppose there was never man so patient in the world that pattern of all perfection our blessed Savior excepted but if a man should heap together all the cholerick speeches all the way-ward actions that ever scaped from him in his life and present them in one view all continuate together as is the fashion of some men it would represent him for a furious and raving bedlam whom displaying all his life in the same tenor it was led the whole world might well admire for his courtesie staydnesse moderation and magnaminitie They that obserue nothing in wise men but theyr oversights and follies nothing in men of vertue but theyr faults and imperfections from which neyther the wisest nor the perfectest haue bene free what doe they but propose them as matter of scorne and abhorring whom God having endued with principall grace hath marked out for very patterns of honor to imitate Yea this age hath brought out those curst and thrice accursed witts who by culling out the errours and shewes of errours by formalizing the contrarieties mis-interpreting the ambiguitie intangling more the obscurities which in the most renowmed authors for humane wisdome that were ever in the world theyr envious and maliciously fine braines could search imitating him therein who by his labours of the very same nature though with lesse and no ground at all against the sacred Bible purchased the infamous name of the enemie of Christianitie haue done that hure unto the studyes of learning which nothing but utter extinguishing of theyr unlearned workes can expiate But of this matter sufficient The last meanes I will here speake of that were used in setting forward the Reformation of Religion was the diligent compiling of the Histories of those times and actions and especially the Martyrologies of such as rendred by theyr deaths a testimonie to that truth which was persecuted in them These memories and stories presenting generally to the world the singlenesse and innocencie of the one part the integritie of theyr liues the simplicitie of theyr devises the zeale of theyr desires theyr constancies in temptations theyr tollerancie in torments theyr magnaminious and coelestially inspired courage and comfort in theyr very agonies and deaths yielding theyr bodyes with all patience to the furious flames and theyr soules with all joy into the hands of him that made them on the other side representing a serpentine generation wholly made of fraud of policies and practises men lovers of the world and haters of truth and godlinesse fighters against the light protectors of darkenesse persecutors of marriage and patrons of brothels abrogators and dispensers against the Lawes of God but tyrannous importuners and Exacters of theyr owne men false in theyr promises treacherous in theyr pretences barbarous in theyr executions breathing nothing but crueltie but fire and sword against men that had not offended them saue in theyr desire to amend them which could not endure and much of this set out in sundry places with pictures also to imprint thereby a more liuely sence of commiseration of the one part and detestation of the other did breed in mens minds a very strong conceipt that on the one side truth and innocence was persecuted on the other side violence and deceipt did persecute that the one part contrarie to all humane probabilitie being nourished with the onely dew of divine benediction did flourish in the flames and like Camamil spread abroad by being trod under foote the other notwithstanding all humaine and infernall succours and devises yet being cursed from aboue did fade and would come to ruine The Papacie being netled extreamely by these proceedings hath relâ—oved first to giue over the kindling any more of those unfortunate fires saue in places secure to keepe that law in usage the ashes of which they haue perceived to haue beene the seed of theyr adversaries but rather by secret makings of men away in theyr Inquisitions for which purpose as some of theyr owne friends in Italy haue reported whether truely or falsely I am not able affirme they haue theyr trap-doores or pit-falls in darke melancholy chambers or such other devises perhaps and chiefly by generall massacres to extinguish them Then to affront them in the same kind of Martyrologies and Hystories they haue first caused sundry new Fryerly stories to be written also in theyr favour making in them a representation of authoritie and justice proceeding by politike execution of law in the necessarie defence of Gods Church and Priests and of Catholike states and Princes against a
reporting them Whereas if those lay-Catholikes should once open theyr eares to know the Protestants opinions from them selues that hold them which was the use of the old world in theyr ingenuous simplicitie and singlenesse of proceeding they would not be found eyther so absurd perhaps but that a reasonable or so wicked but that a religious mind might embrace them Then secondly by this meanes they do knit their owne faction more fast together and unite them more firmely to the head thereof the Pope sith no service of God but in his communion and with him no conjunction without utter separation and estranging from his enemies Wheras if his partie should but joyne with the Protestants in such services of God as are allowed by both this concurring with them in some actions might abate that utter dislike which they haue now of theyr whole way yea and haply taking a liking of them in some things they might be drawne still on by degrees to other and so finally slip away or grow cold in theyr first affections For factions as by disparitie of minds they are raized so by straungenesse they are continued and grow immortall whereas contrariwise they are asslaked and made calme by entercourse by parlie they are reconciled by familiaritie they are extinguished A memorable example of the vertue of this policie our owne Country in these latter times hath yielded where in the first Reformation under King EDVVARD the Praelates and Clergie having before under King HENRY discarded the Pope did easilie joyne with the Protestants though not in theyr opinions yet in the publike service of God in the Churches being indifferently composed and offensiue to neither part And but that the Pope soone after upon extraordinarie cause was restored to his former authoritie by Queene MARY that faction had in likelihood bene long since ended But after that the Pope was once againe admitted and had libertie to temper with his partie at pleasure in the second Reformation by her Majestie not a Bishop of his could be perswaded to come to our Churches but choosing rather losse of living and the greatest part also imprisonment they layd thereby the foundation of that faction of Recusants which hath since bene continued by theyr followers unto this day notwithstanding our service be lesse offensiue to them than in King EDVVARDS time and in no part opposite to any poinct of theyr beliefe But so hath it seemed good to theyr politike Governours by this utter breach and alienation to preserue and perpetuate the remaines of theyr partie and that in the midst of theyr much more potent adversaries though armed with Lawes quickened with suspicions yea and exasperated by theyr often dangerous practises against them Now in that they proceed also yet one step farther and not onely inhibite theyr partie the reading of Protestantbooks and repaire to theyr Churches but discounsell also all joyning with them in any service of God by whomsoever and how lawfull sort soever performed thereby doe they engender in them according to theyr desire an extreame hatred and bitter detestation of theyr opposites For if the Protestants by reason of theyr enmitie with the Pope and swarving from his way doe stand in tearmes of so deepe disfavour with God that theyr Prayer it selfe doth turne into sinne that theyr humble thanksgivings are abominable praesumptions that to joyne with them in praysing the Creatour of the world is no better than dis-service to his Majestie then surely woe worth the houre wherein they were borne and blessed bee that hand which shall worke their bane and ruine then no stay or doubt but what the Pope directeth that boldly to be executed against the enemies of God And this haue they set up as a Crowne and accomplishment to the rest of theyr practises against theyr adversaries For now is theyr faction not onely kept on foote and continually maintained without decay but inflamed also with such hatred of theyr enemies that they are ready to any violence that opportunitie can aduise For as diversities of judgements doth grow into dislikes and dislikes by opposition doe issue into factions so hatred in factions doth breake out into seditions and attendeth onely advantage to use force against those they hate Whereas on the contrary side the Protestant being not armed nor quickened up with such stings of hatred as his adversarie is more cold and carelesse in his opposite desires and exceedingly inferiour in all strong attempts and practises But certeinely howsoever in this craftie kind of policie which hath too much bewitched the witts of this age and doth too much tyrannize over that auncient true wisedome wherewith the world in fore-times was more happilie governed these courses may seeme very fine and effectuall for the atchieving of that end whereto they are framed yet I suppose it would proue very hard to be shewn how they can stand with the principles and rules of that Religion whose roote is Truth whose braunches are Charitie whose fruits are good deeds extending and even offering them selues with cheerefulnesse unto all men to the encouraging of friends and reclayming of enemies to the mending of the worse and accomplishing of the better For if a magnanimous noble mind in the high vertuousnesse thereof doe carrie it selfe in all actions with such moderation and measure as that it neyther hate his enemie so much in regard of his wickednesse but that it loue whatsoever in him hath resemblance of vertue neyther yet feare him so much for his mischieuous desirs as to rage and grow fierce upon him in his weakenesse but contenteth itselfe so far forth only to repress him as may disable him thence forward from doing hurt unto others how much more may it seeme reasonable that the heavenly affectiō of a Christian rejoyce for whatsoever goodnes appeares in any man as finding there some lineaments of his Creatours Image detest nothing but impietie and wickednesse the worlds dishonour and lastly in the true and serious worshipping of God do joyne when occasion offers with whatsoever of his Creatures with united affections to cheare up his service where scandall by shew of approuing that which is evill in them doth not hinder But this world in the basenesse of his mettal now the last and worst and in the weakenesse of his old and decayed yeares laying the ground of all his policie in Feare and Iealousie issuing from a certeine consciousnesse of his owne worthlesnesse and want of vertue holdeth those courses for the best which worke with the greatest and most secret advantage against such as eyther are or in time may become concurrents or enemies letting passe with some tearmes of formall commendation those auncient more noble wayes which being derived from the high Governor of both the Worlds having their ground on the unmovable principles of true wisedome and vertue must needs bee of greater force both for the upholding of those that hold them and for the effecting of all theyr worthy and honourable desires were there
that PIVS QVINTVS under pretences after the Councell of Trent for visiting and reforming of theyr Clergie with other Papall affaires was complained of to the Councell of Spaine to haue drawne fourteene millions from them out of that Kingdome What gaine theyr pardons bring I cannot well estimate they beeing not sold now to particular persons after theyr former usage saue in Spaine and those out-appurtenances where also the late King himselfe was said to haue the greatest share and in regard thereof to haue enterposed his Regall authoritie in pressing theyr sale upon all his people It is to be presumed that such a multitude of generall perpetuall and plenarie indulgences for all times persons and offences besides other more limited as are graunted to the greatest part of the religious houses and to some other Churches of Italy and to sundry in Fraunce also yield somewhat to the holy-Father in way of thankefull acknowledgment considering their gaine by them is not nothing The Cordeliers at Orleans at the publishing of one Indulgence picked up as they say there foure thousand Crownes at a blow But howsoever the mysterie of that secret stand this is plaine and apparent that the Papacie is content to use these Religious houses as very spunges to drinke what juyce they can from the people that afterwards hee may wâ—ing them out one by one in his owne Convents The Convents haue from him these indulgences of grace to remit sinnes and free soules from the flames of Purgatorie at the anniversarie publishing whereof in theyr Churches there stands in eminent place the box of devotion with some poore begging Crucifix lightly before it and two tapers on each side to see the chinke to put money in What man can bee so vnthankefull so stony and dry hearted as to giue nothing to them who haue forgiuen them so much especially there never wanting some holy pretence to encourage nor many a deere eye to obserue theyr good doings Besides this the Pilgrimages to theyr miraculous images which draw great commoditie to the Cities also and States wherein the people not ignorant thereof helpe to set them a working a consideration that bringeth contentment therewith no lesse to the Princes so sweet is the tast of gaine from whatsoever the visiting of theyr holy Reliques both which haue theyr offrings the purchasing of Masses both auxiliatorie and expiatorie theyr rewards for praying theyr collections for preaching besides sundry other duties among which theyr Obits which are so beneficiall that theyr accompt is from a rich man to draw Vijs Modis some hundred crownes at his funerall or else it goes hard Yea this is so certeine and so good a rent unto them that if any man of sort should be buried without theyr solemnities and some of theyr orders to accompany his course he should be thought a very Haeretike and bee sure to haue some odde bruit set abroach concerning him As fell out not long since to a wealthy Citizen of Lucca who willing by his Testament to bee buried in the night without theyr attending tapering censing or singing had a rumour of him soone spread by the belly-devout Friers whom hunger and losse of hope had made wickedly irefull that hee was haunted and infested with blacke ratts on his death-bed A matter of like truth to the Cordeliers spirit at Orleans These meanes extraordinarie besides theyr ordinarie revenew increasing often by inheritances descending upon them which happ'ning to any of theyr brotherhood goe to the Convent for ever such is the Law of Italy being graunted or permitted by the Pope to the Friers and all to enrich them the Law of thankefulnesse requires reason and aequitie allowes and theyr vow of povertie adviseth that when they grow too rich his Holinesse should let them blood in theyr overfull-veynes for his owne necessarie susteinance as did SIXTVS QVINTVS who pared away the superfluities of sundry rich Convents as fitter for his high State and honourable desseines than for them who had povertie in recommendation This Pope dealeth more gently by way of loanes which may perhaps in the end come all to one â—… Besides which when warre against Turkes or Haeretikes or any other enemies of the Church or any other great affaire requires employment of the Church-treasure there are taxes and subsiâ—ies imposed or requested to a certeine proportion upon the revenew of all Abbeys and other religious Convents in Italy besides the rest of the Clergie which can be no small matter as was done these last yeeres for the service of Hungarie I might adde hereto the roll of his forreine Commodities the fees of dispensations chiefly in prohibited degrees for marriage There beeing few royall families at this day in Christendome which by reason of theyr often alliances and neerenesse in bloud are able by his Canons to enter-mary without his Licence Which fashion of restraining of things lawfull upon shew of vertue that afterwards by dispensing even with unlawfull things they may raise theyr benefit is the base brood of the mixture of hypocrisie and coveteousnesse borne to the common calamitie and pressure of them for whose ease and â—â—â—â—câ—â—ie all gâ—…ment was instituted But by those and â—… other dispensations and expediâ—ions his Papaâ—â— Authoritie doth accomodate and is accomodated â—…lly of all Nations the particularities whereof I â—… not farther insist upon this being sufficient to vâ—…fie this assertion that even at this day those out-incomes are good helps for an extraordinarie od-chare when need is And yet all this notwithstanding the treasure of the Church is small SIXTVS QVINTVS left fiue Millions by his great racking and husbandrie His successor GREGORIE the Xiiij. th wasted foure of them in ten moneths and lesse aboue his ordinary revenew in pomp and ryot This man is very charie over that one remaining and distilleth all other devises rather than set finger to that string which yet his late prowesses haue caused him to assay But were the Church rent and gain how huge soever two assiâ—uall horse-â—eeches which never lin sucking it will never suffer it to swell over-greatly in treasure The first is the high place of honour which he takes farre aboue all other Princes and Monarchs in the world which draweth him to an inaestimable charge in all places to carie it with countenance and comlinesse requisite being forced thereby in his owne traine in the enterteinment he giues Princes in the allowance to his Legats Nunâ—io's and other Ministers which according to his owne greatnesse are sent into all Countries and lastly in furnishing out to the multitude of his actions and practises over the world to raise his charge for the most part according to the proportion of his high state For honour and frugalitie are the unfittest companions that can be It is liberalitie and expence which both breeds and mainteins honour Neyther can a judiciall man perhaps wish worse to his enemie than to haue an honourable calling and a poore living An other thing which keepes the Papacie
some places as in theyr County of Tâ—roll effected But in Austria it selfe not so wherein the number of Protestants exceeds and is fearefull to theyr opposites though the exercise of the Reformed religion is there no where allowed and in some chiefe Cities as Uienna wholly restrained But the most part of the Country-people are of it so are halfe the Nobilitie The Duke of Cleves a third Prince affected the same way hath shewed himselfe a little more moderate than some other so advised by neighbourhood The Free-Cities which are of very great number and strength haue all saue some very few enfreed them selues from the Pope eyther in whole or in theyr greater part And thus stands the State of the Empire for that poinâ—t conteyning in it a very huge Circuit of Territorie full of mightie Princes and well-fortified Cities that if it were more strictly united under one Monarch and not so rent into factions with diversitie of Religions breeding endlesse jealousies hartburnings and hatreds it needed no other help to affront the great-Turke and to repulse all his forces â—â— the securitie of Christendome But â—…s so unaequall proportion of adhaerents to the Papacie two things there are which giue them hope of better if prosperous successe shall second theyr well contrived projects The one is the creating of the Emperours alwayes of theyr partie whereof they assure them selues by these considerations First there is no House in Germanie at this day of such greatnesse as is requisit to with-stand the Turke in his encroachments the House of Austria set aside who by their alliance or rather meere entirenesse with Spain and by sundry electiue Kingdomes which runne necessarily upon them shall be alwayes able to make head against any power in the world and by their owne state confining so immediatly with the Turks shal be necessarily enforced laying other thoughts aside to employ the utmost drop of their bloud to keepe off Next whensoever the matter groweth to election of a new Emperour they shall alwayes haue the casting Voyce with them or rather in them having entangled the States of Bohemia in such bonds and promises besides there is no other to make good choise of that they accompt of this Kingdome as of a State halfe haereditarie And lastly theyr late policie now strengthened by usage of declaring a King of Romans in the Emperours life-time whilst his presence and power may govern the action assures them that it shall always passe with them roundly and quietly The other ground of theyr hope is the division of the Protestants into theyr factions of Lutherans and Calvinists as they stile them wherein the Ministers on each side haue so bestirred themselues that the cole which a wise man with a little moisture of his mouth would soone haue quenched they with the wind of theyrs haue contrariwise so enflamed that it threatneth a great ruine and calamitie to both sides And though the Princes and heads of the weaker side in those parts both Paltsgraue and Lantsgraue haue with great judgement and wisedome to asslake those flames imposed silence in that poinct to the Ministers of theyr partie hoping the charitie and discretion of the other sort would haue done the like yet falls it out otherwise both the Lutheran Preachers rage as bitterly against them in theyr Pulpits as euer theyr Princes and people haue them in as great detestation not forbearing to professe openly they will returne to the Papacie rather than ever admit that Sacramentarie and Predestionarie pestilence for these two poincts are the ground of the quarrell and the latter more scandalous at this day than the former And some one of theyr Princes namely the Administratour of Sâ—xonie is strongly miâ—doubted to practise with the Emperour for the joyning the Catholike and Lutheran forces in one and by warre to roote out and extinguish the Calvinists the plausiblest motion to the Emperour that ever could happen Neither is there any great doubt but if any stay or agreement could bee taken with the Turke all Germany were in daunger to bee in uprore within it selfe by intestine dissention Howbeit all the Lutherans are not earied with this sterne humour but they onely which are called the Lutherani rigidi the greater part perhaps which are the molles Lutherani are quiet enough neyther accompt otherwise of Calvinists than of erâ—ing brethren whom the Râ—gâ—di haue as is said partly threaten to excommunicate as Schismatikes and Haeretikes To this lamentable extremitie hath the headinesse of theyr Ministers on both sides brought it while in the peremptorinesse of theyr poore learning they cannot endure any supposed error in their brethren whereof themselues even the best of them perhaps if they were sifted would bee found to bee full enough such take I to be the condition of all men in this world and in theyr ignorance of all actions saue of theyr Schooles and Bookes make more accompâ— of some emptie ill-shaped â—yllogisme than of the peace of the Church and happinesse of the world the â—nd whereof will bee that theyr enemies shall laugh when themselues shall haue cause to weepe unlesse the graciousnesse of God stirre up some worthy Pâ—inces of renowâ—e and reputation with both the sides to inâ—erpose theyr wâ—sdome industrie and authoritie for the uniting these factions or at leastwise for reconciling and composing those differences in some tollerable sort a worke of immortall fame and desert and worthy of â—one but them of whom this wicked base world is not worthy But hereof I shall haue occasion to speake in his due place For this place it sufficeth that these iâ—trincicall quarrels are that which maketh theyr common enemies hold up tâ—eyr heads which quickneth theyr hopes to see the blades of these Reformers drawne one against another that them selues beeing called in to the beating downe of the one part may afterward in good time assaile also the other in the meane season planting in all places theyr Colleges of Iesuites as the onely corrosiue medicine to fret out theyr adversaries Now on the other partie the hopes are also not few besides theyr over-topping them so much in multitude and power First the Germane bearing a naturall stiffe hate to the Italian for his winding and subtill wit which despiseth and would raâ—sacke him but that hee opposeth a proud stoutnesse and intractible obstinacie which serueth alwayes as a wall of defence to simplicitie will hardly what tempering soever the Princes make be brought ever in heart to re-affect the Papacie whose sleights and devises they are thoroughly acquainted with and haue in more detestation than any Nation whatsoever And for theyr owne inward dissâ—…ions it is to bee hoped that though no course were taken to compound them yet never will they bee so mad as to decide them by a generall open warre on both sides having Turke Pope and Emperour to joyne them in friendship For although the contentions of brethren bee â—itterâ—st yet a common strong enemie alwayes makes them friends
a midle degree of condition possesse also a moderate temper of affections which is ordinarily the greatest part in all well-ordred Cōmon-wealths and withall the farre surest and firmest to the State None of those will be easily drawn to enter into any violent course against those of the Religion so long as they haue the discretion by no jealousie to provoke them The last part is indeed of their vowed and sworn enemies the Leaguers and Zelez as some name them once the greatest and most favoured part of the Realme at this day not so theyr plausible pretences being now dismasked and the disasterous success of theyr disordred actions which hath brought things to the very counterpoinct of that they aymed and left nothing but a memorie of much trouble and misery of the wasting of the people the sacking of Cities the harrowing and desolating of the Countrey together with the imminent daunger of the utter ouerthrow of the Realme for ever making them hatefull and despised in those very same minds wherein they were erst-whiles enshrined with all devotion which reasons haue so abated also the hawtinesse of theyr hopelesse heads who lately breathed nothing but Crownes and scepters but glory to theyr followers but vengeance to theyr enemies that now they are content to raunge with theyr fellows and haue turned their song of soveraignty into a more peaceable and calme tune of nec veterum memini latorve malorum Howbeit the righ Zelez men of the basest sort lightly and possessed with Friers who fill them with very furies against the Religion are as malicious and ragefull against the Protestants as ever and thirst after nothing so much as to embrew them selues once againe in theyr bloud they sticke not to professe and indeed had they heads and opportunities to acccomplish The number of these is exceeding great and desperate but impuissant base and broken With these joyne in heart in a manner all the Clergie who compt the Religion and Reformation theyr bane and the very calamitie of theyr estate for ever A great errour among other as was observed by the worthy Chancellour MONSIEVR DEL ' HOSPITAL in the plots and proceedings of the first Protestants of Fraunce to alienate so respected and so potent a part of the Realme by leaving them no hope of any tollerable condition under theyr reformed estate whom by following the wiser courses of theyr moderate neighbours they might haue gained to them in greatest part as others did Now this part which are the onely assured enemies of the Protestants and of whom they may make accompt that they will not faile them at a need doth come short of them perhaps in strength though in multitude farre exceed them Wherein this is also not to bee left unconsidered that as in the body of man the humours draw still to the sore so in a state all averse and discontented doe associate them selues lightly to the part grieved and persecuted This take I to bee the present estate of the factions in Fraunce for matter of Religion submitting my opinion as in all other things to bee censured and reformed by whosoever with more experience and deeper judgement shall haue waded in and weighed these actions and considerations But to make my farre reach of conjecture for the time to come that will I not bee so sawcie as to doe in French affaires whose mines are so full of Quicksilver that theyr nimble witts would take it perhaps in dudgen that any should imagine they would plod on in any one tenour with that dull constancie which theyr heavyer mettald neighbours doe use being able even in freshest experience to boast that theyr lightnesse of spirit and mutabilitie of resolutions hath sodainly recovered them from those tearmes of extremitie which in the hands of any constant Nation in the world had beene a very long cure if not desperate and curelesse But verily this diversitie and dissention in Religion is still a very great weakenesse and disease in theyr state and such as wil be alwayes a matter of jealousie among them selues of assurance for theyr neighbours of joy to theyr enemies For Lorain and Savoy with the Uallesi who confine on Savoy they runne wholly with the streame of the Papacie though in both parts there are store of Protestants and that of men of the better sort but without any publike exercise of theyr Religion saue onely in some few out-skirts of Savoy neere Berna and Geneva What Madam the Kings sister may affect in Loraine or what contrariwise her selfe may suffer time onely by triall is able to ascertein These particulars thus admitted it will bee no great difficultie to make some comparatiue Estimate of the whole strength of the Papacie in respect of the Protestants being the part now onely on foot against them For as for the Greeke-Church the case is evident that though in number it bee graunted that they exceed any other yet are they so oppressed under Turkish tyrannie or removed so farre off as the Muscovites and some others that they come not into any accompt in the survey of the strength which wee now speake of But for the Western or Latine Church in the generall division into the part Reformed and part Papall admitting them in number and circuit of Territorie to be neere aequall as considering the huge compasse of Germanie and that Empire possessed so wholly in a manner by the Protestants I can make no other proportion in other poincts wee shall finde great odds and advantages for strength in different kinds on both sides First the Kingdomes and States of the Romish part lying neerer the Sunne are not onely in riches both naturall of theyr soyle and accessorie by greater opportunitie of traffike to all parts of the World by manifold degrees superiour to theyr Northren adversaries but also in a finenesse and subtiltie of wit which having that other instrument of wealth to work by doth farre passe in all ordinarie and orderly actions that robustnesse of body and puissance of person which is the onely fruict of strength that those colder climes doe yield Though some times extraordinarily it is knowne and to bee graunted that those septentrional inundations by theyr very violence and multitude as in people more generatiue haue so wildly deliviated over all the South that as a raging tempest they haue ravaged and ruined those powerfull and flourishing Empires in the sodainnesse of an instant which had bene many ages in rearing and spreading over the world But these haue bene no other than as torrents or brooks of passage soone up soon downe soone come soon over gone Neither haue the Northern people ever yet for all theyr multitude and strength had the honour of being founders or possessours of any great Empire so unaequall is the combate between force and witt in all matters of durable and grounded establishment An other poinct of great advantage in the selfe-same side is the uniting of theyr forces into fewer heads and mightier which uniting is a
rapins and murderings of the very soules of theyr children a case to be bewailed with teares of bloud by all Christian harts that know it hearing the onely Anchor and flay of their soules which is their expectation of the comming of Christ and of future salvation dayly derided and blaspheamed by the pride of the mightie and finally seeing no shadow of any hope of deliverie from this long calamitie under the burthen whereof they grone and are consumed should in the end fall away and revolt to Turcisme inviting them unto it with all the baits of ease of wealth of pleasures of freedome prosperitie and worldly glory in which fearefulnesse of mind the onely remedie remaining is the vertuousnesse of their owne example in constancie and patience and the avoyding of all scandall to their people Which is the cause that they wil not hear of reforming any thing not I suppose upoÌ„ any presumptioÌ„ or obstinacy of mind as disdaining reformation but as trembling at alteration which must needs accompany it lest their people perceiving so they had bin amisse in some things might suspect the possibilitie of like errour in the whole and so fall mainly whither the force of power and worldly prosperitie a chiefe argument to the ignorant vulgar minds should sway them As on the other side their doubt of farther inaspererating the Turk in his Crueltie against them considering that in Greece and all those parts of Europe the Christians under the Turk do very manyfoldly exceed in number the Mahometans them selues may be a cause why in their generall they hold so small intelligence correspondence with the West-Church of one side or other and are like to continue so whilst their thraldome and cause of that feare shall last though in their particular they will declare a brotherly affection to both and desire of the unitie of all in one truth But for the Turk him selfe he maketh full accompt that wheÌ„soever the West-Christians should stoutly invade him the East-Christians under him would run to theyr aid if they saw any likelihood that they should prevaile And this hath bene seene already more than once by example and he provides accordingly The Muscovites are a great Church a free and puissant not schismatikes from the Graecians as some in disgrace of both deliver though perhaps not fully concurring in all poincts Neyther yet is it true which other of a contrarie conceipt haue rumoured that the Patriarch of Constantinople hath remoued his Seat to Mosco whether he went only to erect that Sea into an Archbishoprick which before it was not and so returned But the Turk to keepe the Muscovites from stirring against him doth cause the Tartarians to make often incursions and roads into theyr Countrie that so being always in inward awe from an other side they may haue lesse leysure and with all lesse stomacke to embrace any outward thoughts or desseines of enterprizing or combining with other Christians against him It were needlesse now to enter into any view of their Liâ—es neither could it serue eyther way to the honour or reproach of theyr Religion or governement being maymed interrupted and stopped in his operations of what qualitie soever though his tyrannie who striveth by all meanes to plant barbarousnesse amongst them as knowing that neyther Civilitie did found his Empire nor with civilitie could it long continue But the case is generall and experience sheweth it in all places that although a sweet mind and pure conversation bee the naturall fruicts of a sound beliefe and perswasion yet the afflicted in all Religions grounded upon truth how contrary soever otherwise are in their farre greatest part men of conscience and honestie saue onely where hopes draw other humours to them For it cannot proceed from lesse than a vertuous affection to prefer the sinceritie of conscience before worldly glory howsoever it may be stained with other erronious opinions As on the contrarie side even the purest Religion in prosperitie draweth to it an infinite of good companions and time-seâ—vers who being trained up in the exactnesse of kitchin and cup discipline make theyr Rendez-vows always where the best Cheere is stirring and follow Christ upon a sharpe devotion but to his bread not to his doctrine In which regard the fruicts of life in divers Religions and governments are not to bee compared but where their prosperitie or adversitie are aequall And even so doth it fall out in this particular we now speake of where the Graecian who is compted by the corruption of his Country to be naturally a false and craftie merchant a seditious and stirring person in all kinds of governement is now become humble obedient graue and peaceable and surely at divine service giveth more shew of devotion than the Romanists in any place for ought I haue yet seene But the lamentable calamitie of this afflicted and distressed Church once flourishing in all worldly prosperitie and glory now such as it hath pleased the rage of the wild bore to leaue it able to melt and dissolue even a marble heart into streames of mournefull teares doth cause me in due sense of campassion of their miserie to presse with the humble petition of a mind pierced with griefe to the just Iudge of the world the Redeemer of mankind and the Saviour of his erring people to cast downe his gracious and pittifull Eys upon them to behold on the one side his triumphant fierce enemie persecuting without end or measure on the other side his poore servants troden downe and persecuted without helpe or hope or comfort to breake and dissolue the pride and power of the one and to comfort the astonished and wasting weakenesse of the other with some hope of succour and finall deliverie to inspre the â—… Christian Princes their neighbours compounding or laying aside theyr endlesse and fruictlesse contentions to revenge theyr quarrell against the unjust oppressour to deliver now at length the Church of that bane the world of that ignominie mankind of that Monster of Turkish tyrannie which hath too long ravaged and laid desolate the earth A small thing were it if his revenew and treasure were only supplyed and maintained out of their goods and labours or if their bodies and liues were onely wasted and worne out in his works and slaveries it might be suffered For goods are transitorie and death is the end of all worldly miseries But to be forced to pay a tribute also of soules to his Mahomet to haue their forwardest and deerest children snatcht out of their bosoms to be brought up in his impious and bestiall abominations and to be employed in the murdering of them that begat them and in the rooting out of that Faith wherein they were borne and baptized and which only were able to bring their soules to happinesse this surely is an anguish and calamitie insupportable and which cryeth unto God in the Heavens for release How long shall the hatefull name of that cursed Seducer upbraid the glorious and louely
the upholding of that state that without the Papacie sundry of them haue no hope and some no title to continue in their owne dominions For to omit things more apparant in the Eys of al men their praetended auâ—thoritie to excommunicate and depose them to discharge subjects of all oath and bond of obedience to oblige them under pain of damnation to rise against them to honour their murtherers with the title of Martyrs for to that degree of eternity haue some of their sect grown the effect of which proceeding some great Princes haue felt and more haue feared and few at this day list to put it to the adventure the tempering with so unlimited power in Princes Mariages by dispensing with degrees by the Law of God and the World forbidden by loosing and knitting mariages by devise at pleasure by legitimating unlawfull and accursed issue and therby aduancing into thrones of Regalitie oftentimes base sundry times adulterous yea and sometimes incestuous and perhaps unnaturall off spring doth not reason foretell and hath not experience adverred that both the partners in such marriages and much more their whole issue are bound in as strong a bond to the upholding of the Popes infinite authoritie and power as the honour of their byrth and title of their Crownes are worth It was a seely conceipt in them who hoped that Queene MARIE would not restore the Popes authoritie in England by reason of her promise when a greater bond to her than her promise did presse her to it What man ever in the world stucke faster to his chosen friend than the late K. PHILIP of Spaine to the Papacie notwithstanding with the Popes themselues his often jealousies and quarrells having ordeined moreover that all his Heirs and successours in the state of the Low-Countries by vertue of his late transport shall for ever in their entry into those Signories take an oath for the maintaining of the Papacie and that Religion Is not the reason apparent that if the Papacie should quaile his onely son with whosoever descend of him are dishonouâ—ed and made uncapable as in way and right of descent of those great States and Kingdomes which now he holdeth yea and a fire kindled in his owne house about the title to them Neither is it to be admitted into any conceipt of reason but that this young King will be as sure to the Papacie as his Father being borne of a Marriage prohibited by God abhorred hapâ—ly by Nature disapproued by the World and onely by Papall authoritie made allowable For for my part I hold that opinion not unprobable that the mariage of Vncle and Niece as it was in this case is contrary to the Law of Nature and not Gods positiue Law only seeing the Vncle hath a second right and place of a Father But howsoever that poinct stand wherein I dare not affirme ought it is cleerly contrarie to such a positiue Law of God as the reason and cause whereof must needs continue till the dissolution of the world or overthrow of mankind and therefore in reason and Law no way abrogable or dispensable with but by the same or an higher authoritie than that which first did make it that the Pope need not thinke they do him apparent wrong who invest him with the Title of that man of power who sitting in the Temple of God exalteth him selfe aboue God For what may it seeme els bearing him selfe for Head of the Church to take upon him to cancell or authentically to allow of the breach of Gods Law without having his expresse and praecise warrant for so doing Though I am not ignorant that they haue distinctions for all this which were a merry matter if Sophistrie were the proper science for Salvation But by this and some other mariages those straunge relations of alliance haue growne that K. PHILIP the second were he now aliue might call the Archduke ALBERT both brother cousin nephew and sonne for all this was he to him eyther by bloud or affinitie being Vncle to him selfe cousin-germain to his his Father husband to his Sister and father to his Wife And to come a step neerer home the same rule of policie made me strongly conjecture till that now God by death hath prevented that mischiefe howsoever the Pope hitherto what for feare of scandalizing what for other respects made shew not to be forward to consent to an entended mariage betweene a married King and his Mistresse much lesse to legitimate the children adulterously begotten by finding nullities on both sides in the former marriages things made on purpose as he knoweth to cloke a falshood that yet notwithstanding him selfe or his successour would yield to it in the end if any colour in the world could be layd upon the matter to salue the credite of his not erring sea and he might see good hope for that race to prevaile yea and it may yet be that in some other match he will guide that streame into the same course that so deriving the succession also of this other great Kingdom upon issue whose title must hold off his legitimation he may be better assured of it than he hath been hitherto and haue them for ever most firm irreconcileable adversaries to all such whether subjects or neighbours or whosoever as should oppose against his Soveraigntie and unstinted power so searching and penetrant is the cunning of that Sea to strengthen it selfe more by the vnlawfull marriages of other men than ever Prince yet could do by any lawfull mariage of his owne The Dispensing with Oaths and discharging from them especially in matters of Treatie between Princes and States is a thing so repugnant to all morall honestie so injurious to the quiet and peace of the world so odious in it selfe so scandalous to all men that it may be they adventure not to play vpon that string in this curious age so often as heretofore for feare of discording all the rest of their harmonie Cleare it is that heretofore this made them a necessary helpe for all such Princes as eyther upon extremitie were driven to enter into hard conditions or upon falshood and dishonestie desired to take their advantage against their neighbours when it was offered Which Princes having no means to salue their Credite with the World but only by justifying the unholinesse of their act by the Popes holy aucthoritie interposed in it were afterwards tyed firmly to adhaere vnto him And this was the case of FRANCIS the first with whom immediately upon his oath given to CHARLES the sift for performance of the Articles accorded at his delivery CLEMENT the seventh dispensed and by probable conjecture had promised him to dispense with his Oath before hand upon hope also whereof he tooke it The effect was for the Popes behoofe that ever after there was strict loue intelligence between them testified finally to the World by that famous mariage between the Son of the one and the kinswoman of the other And verily though
I hold in generall too much suspiciousnesse as great a fault and as great an enemie to wisedome as too much credulitie it doing often times hurtfull wrong to friends as the other doth receiue wrongfull hurt from dissemblers yet viewing the short continuance of sworne Leagues at this day the small reckoning that Princes make of Oathes solemnly taken whether to neighbours or subjects not saith but profit beeing the bond of alliance and amitie which altering once the other haue no longer during it making me thinke not unpossible that the Popes unlimited fingers may bee stirring even at this day more often in secret in uniting those knotts of the bonds of conscience than the world is ware of at leastwise that by authoritie and imitation of his example Princes assume unto them selues a like facultie of dispensing with their owne Oathes whensoever they can perswade them selues it is behooffull unto their kingdomes as he when to his Church But howsoever that stands this is very apparent that by this doctrine and policie the Popes opposites and enemies especially the States and Princes of the Reformed Religion are inestimably praejudiced beeing reduced hereby to a continuall incerteintie and confusion in all their weightiest actions counsells and resolutions there being a warrant dormant for all men to breake league and oath with them and no need of particular dispensation from his Holinesse their Church long since by her rules and some of great reckoning among them more lately by their writings having published and preached to all the world that Faith given to Hereticks is not to be kept that leagues with them are more honourable in their breaking than in their making denying that right unto Princes of Christian profession which Christians unto Heathen the Heathen one to an other of how different Religion soever yea all honourable Princes unto very Traytours and Rebels haue alwayes kept inviolable And surely if Father PARSONS at his late coÌ„ming to Rome pretending to make peace betweene the English Schollars and the Iesuites who were charged with much indirect dealing and large imbeazeling and setting downe certein articles betweene them to that purpose whereby each part should be bound to desist impugning of the other did by handling the matter as is said with such sleight and conveiance imitating therein a rule of fast on the one side and loose on the other in the ground of their order as first to sweare the schollars to obserue that which was their part and afterwards to leaue the Iesuites unsworne to theirs effect his secret and ambitious intent and to the great griefe of the schollars make the Iesuits their Governours what other account can be made of these peaces and leagues betweene those of the Romane and of the Reformed Religion but that the one side being tied by oath and the other left free for so are they taught they shall so farre forth onely haue performance and continuance as shall proue to the advantage in ease or profit of that partie which esteemeth itselfe left at libertie The sacred the soveraigne instrument of justice among men what is it what can it bee in this world but an oath being the strongest bond of Conscience this the end of strifes particular this the soder of publike peace and the sole assurance of amitie betweene divers Nations which being made here below is enrolled in his high Court whose glorious name doth signe it who hath made no graunt of accesse to his Coelestiall palace but to such as hauing sworne once though it redound to their owne damage yet swarue not from it that nothing but mischiefe can be praesaged to the world in this age most wretched wherein perjurie hath so undermined the very tribunals of judgement that it hath chased true justice out of the world and left no place for a just man where to stand against the craftie But what may be said when he that sitteth in the Temple of God shall so far advance himselfe aboue God as to dispense with oaths made sacred by the most holy and high name of God when he that professeth himselfe the sole Vmpire and Peace-maker of the World should cut in sunder those only sinews that hold peace together when the Father of Princes and Prince of Religion shall carie him selfe with so wicked partialitie and craft as in dissoluing oathes by afflicting therein the part he hateth and making the other perpetually obnoxious to him to worke his owne certeine advantage from both and lastly by making that auncient bridle of the unjust to be now an onely snare to entrap the innocent shall impose that blemish upon the name of Christianitie which Pagans in their naturall moralitie haue abhorred I will not here omit one other great helpe which casualiie rather than cunning may seeme to haue wrought it falling out often in the affaires of men that where wisedome hath furnished out sundry aids and instruments there some also doe frame themselues as it were by chaunce springing out of the concurrence of divers accidents with the former As at this day the Greatnesse of the House of Austria extending it selfe well neere to all Quarters of Europe and confining with many of the Popes principall adversaries who having long since upon the rich purchase which they had of the West-Indies devoured in assured hope and conceipe the Monarchy of our Westerne-World And finding no sitter and more plausible meanes ro enlarge their temporall Dominion than by concurring with the Pope in restoring his spirituall haue linked themselues most fast with his sea and investing them selues voluntarily witb an office of their owne erection haue taken upon them to bee the Executioners of the Papall Excommunications that having title from the Pope who giveth his Enemies states Occupanti and distracting their subjects from them upon feare of his curse the rest they may supply out of their owne force and opportunities And for this purpose hath bâ—ne erected and by them highly cherished that super politike and irrefragable order as they compt it of the Iesuites who couple in their perswasions as one God and one Faith so one Pope and one King bearing the world in hand that no other meanes for the Church to stand but by resting upon this pillar and by uniting in this sort all the forces of the Christians this the onely meanes to vanquish that Arch-enemie of Christianitie That the Italians may not brag to haue beene the onely men who haue subdued the world unto them by their wit the Spaniards hauing proved so good schollars in their schooles that though they follow them in their grounds of pretending their advancement of Religion and in their Instruments of religious orders to practise mens minds with yet in this they out-goe them that they use the Popes weapons lightnings thunders and terrours for instruments of their owne greatnesse and his hope of re-establishing his spirituall reputation by them to the immoderate encrease of their secular power by him that the Pope also himselfe must in
alwayes so bare yea and makes their temporall state the worse governed in Italy for so it is compted is in their often change of Popes by reason of their yeeres the infinit desire each hath to advance his kinred his Children first if he haue any as PAVLVS tertius who left his base issue no lesse than Dukes of Placentia and Parma and GREGORIE the Xiij th more lately who made his base sonne Duke of Sora and Castellan of St. Angelo and if they haue no Children or list not be knowne of them then theyr Nephewes and other kinsmen which is common to them all Yea it often falls out that those Popes who haue not any known children of theyr own by extending their loue larger to a greater multitude of Nephews yet desiring for theyr owne renowme and perpetuating of theyr name to raise them to as great State and wealth as they can possibly do consume more the goods and treasure of the Church than those other who haue theyr loues though stronger yet to fewer as was apparâ—nt in the two GREGORIES the Xiij th with his few Sonnes and the Xiij th with the multitude of his Nephews and kinsmen And these mâ—n being raised often from the bottome of basenesse to the heighth of pride and power having no hold in theyr hands nor scantling of theyr fortunes as having never beene in the middle state which is the measure of both extreames doe fall into ryot able to ruine any Prince and rage and ravine in theyr Offices and governments as they that knowing theyr time short meane to use it to the full proofe the examples whereof are both many and fresh which for theyr foulnesse and basenesse I list not to repeat For which cause it was a good helpe for SIXTVS QVINTVS to bee Pope that hee had small kinred though that ground is moueable seeing Pedegrees change for the most part together with mens fortunes which as a conscionable Aâ—bitratour neyther annoyes the poore ever with multitude of kinâ—men nor discomforts the rich with paâ—citie For the â—… of the rest of the Clergie under the Paâ—… it â—… as the Countries In Spaine the â—… are exceeding rich in revenew the Areâ—… of Tolâ—edo not inferiour to some Kingdoâ—… In Italy the livings of the Praelates are compâ—… considering the excessiâ—e multitude Yet with so great diversitie that some meere Bishopâ—icks are aboue twenty thousand Crownes rent other some under one thousand But the custome of Italy which avoydeth yea blameth multitude of servants and great house-keeping in all sorts and degrees makes a small matter sufficient and a great superfluous Besides there to haue many livings is a matter of credit not of profit onely though as wise men as they haue thought otherwise of it to bee a private great burthen and a publike great mischiefe The Paâ—â—sh Priests in Italy who haue not the tenths which in a Country whose soyle yields three harvests in sundry places all in a yeere would amount to an huge matter and considering the great rents and exactions would be insupportable but haue in stead of them certeine farmes as gleabland appropriate and some certeine quantitie out of the encrease of their neighbours are so provided for that the meanest lightly which are theyr Curati haue an hundred Crownes a yeare and the Piovani which are the Priests of Mother Churches from two hundred to fiue hundred and upward sometimes which they helpe out with Masses as occasion serues which are still in Italy as cheape as a groat In Germany the Praelates are likely great Princes and great Nobilitie required to haue those places In Fraunce the Clergie hath beene in fore-times most flourishing theyr revenew amounting when land and all things were cheapest to six Millions in the whole besides theyr great place and authoritie in theyr State and theyr ample jurisdiction in theyr severall praecincts At this day they are fall'n generally especially the inferiour part into great miserie and beggerie accompanied with all base and vile conditions whereby the Country people is growne also utterly without knowledge of God or sence of Religion being fall'n into those tearmes that plentie which should make men thankefull makes them but wanton and affliction which should make men repentant makes them desperate and nothing can better them The whole Realme in summe hath bene scourged with a three stringed whip Warre Ill-governement and Injustice particular whereof the two lattet are like to last still whilst on the one side the places of Iustice are sold as by the Drumme on the other side the Church Praelacies and other governments of soules are made the fees and charges of meere Courtiers and Souldiers whoâ—e merits would haue rewards but suiting to theyr qualitie which in a Realme so abounding with meanes could not bee wanting but by too much want of indifferencie and measure heaping all upon a few and most where are least deserts whereas these so unfit and ill-suited recompences distemper that harmonie which should be in a flourishing state and overwhelme the Land with all kind of corruption and confusion But to returne to the Papacie or rather now to the Pope himselfe and first to His Election the right whereof having bene of Old in the Clergie and people and from thence transferred to the Emperours nomination is now wholly remitted to the College of Cardinalls so that two third parts of theyr voices that are present are requisite to him that eyther by adoration or in Scrutinie shall winne that glorie Which double porportion of voyces to agree makes this Election of greater difficultie and giues occasion of rarer stratagems and devises in it than I suppose are to be found in any other in the world I haue heard that in these latter times a Cardinall of Sicilie whose Holynesse and learning advanced him to that dignitie for of some such alwayes there is care to make choise for divers considerations entring the Conclaue to an Election and expecting that by incessant prayer as in times of old some divine inspiration should haue poincted out Christs Uicar but finding when he was there nothing but practisiâ—â— and canvasing promising and terrifying banding and combining setting of some up for stales only to ease passage for other who were reserved till the last cast when former hopes and angers beeing spent and evaporated had abated the prime edge and strength of opposition in summe being him selfe also assaulted by all meanes yea tugged and haled now by one part now by another the good man agast as in a matter so cleane contrary to his fore-framed expectation Ad hunc modum quoth he fiunt Pontifices Romani there withall so soone as that Conclaue was broken retired to his Country and would never see Rome againe But the matter of greatest marke herein at this day is the power of the K. of Spaine in swaying those Elections who by pensions by preferments by hopes of the highest having assured a great third part of the Cardinalls to him to bee
againe And as for the Administratour so much suspected who prolls as some say in these practises for his owne greatnesse his authoritie is but short and to expire within three yeeres Then for the having of an Emperour of some more indifferent Family though theyr desire bee in that poinct of all other greatest yet theyr hope I suppose is least And that which is seemes to bee grounded upon the Elector â—â— Colen eyther if the old Elector GEBARDVS TRVCHESIVS should liue so long whom in that case they might by force restore to his place from which he stands now by force ejected yet retaines his claime still and style of Elector or if some other of that sea might be induced to follow the steps of two of theyr antecessours who haue turned Protestants of which course that place will bee alwayes in daunger by reason of such vicinitie and intermixing of theyr State with Protestant Princes besides that in Colen it selfe the Religion hath already â—ooting or at leastwise might bee drawne to that civill indifferencie as in regard of preserving theyr freedome of Election to chaunge once in an age that Familie of Austria wherein the Empire having continued these seven descents may in time bee established as by praescription And lastly for the Iesuites theyr great Patron and planter the old Duke of Bavaria hauing now as is said retired him selfe into their College and resigned his state to his son MAXIMILIAN who it is thought doth disfavour them as much as his Father doted on them this and other such chaunges may giue stay to theyr proceedings But to leaue these hopefull speculations on both sides and to take matters in â—earmes they stand now and may so continue the benefit which the Papacie may expect from the Empire is rather to keepe matters in that stay they are than any way to restore it where it hath bene dispossessed For although these Turkish warres should cease which is not unlikely considering the calme nature of both the Emperours who take more delight in Chambers than Fields yet shall our Christian Emperour be inforced still in fortifying and mainteining garisoâ— all along his frontiers confining sundry hundred long leagues with the Turke so to exhaust his owne treasure and employ his people as that he will not be able to do els-where any extraordinarie matter without help extraordinarie which is never too ready And time which may produce many accidents in his favour may also produce in his disâ—avour as many and so many more as the ground out of which in those parts they may grow is manifoldly larger against him than for him Now for the Low-Countries the Papacie hath two thirds with it and of the Swissers and Grisons two thirds against it of â—â—e Swissers also the Protestants are lightly the wealthier and the Papists the more war-like which may suffice for those parts Of Fraunce how much the better it is knowne unto us at home so much the lesse shall I need to speake much in his place Neither is it very easie to proportion the partiâ—â— â—…son they of the Religion are so scattered in â—…s Yet in Poieton they haue a most all in 〈◊〉 an halfe in Languedoc 〈◊〉 and other West-mariâ—iâ— Provinces a 〈◊〉 strong part as likewise in sundry mediâ—e â—an of which Delfinat the chiefe But whatsoever be the proportion of theyr number to theyr opposites which is manifoldly inferiour not one to twentie theyr strength is such as theyr warres haue witnessed and especially that at this day after such massacring them so generall a rising of the whole Realme against them by the utmost extremitie of fire and sword to exterminate them they are esteemed to bee stronger than at any time heretofore in summe so strong that neither haue theyr adversaries I â—ow any great hope and themselues no feare to bee borne downe by warre That the practises of peace by partialitie and injustice in theyr suits lâ—â—igious which hath already sorely bitten and afflicted theyr estates by depriving them of place of Office and Honour in the Realme by confining the exercise of theyr Religion into chambers or remote corners did not impoverish abase and disharten theyr partie and so withdraw those from them which would otherwise sticke to them this is that which they haue misdoubted and which by the Edict now passed and verified they haue sought to remedie But looking a little more attentiuely into this partie I find that as conscience in what Religion soeuer doth even in the mists of errour breed an honestnesse of mind and integritie of life and actions in whom it settleth of so divine and pure vertue is the loue of the Creatour which is the ground of all that merit the name of religious so also that in them which affect the greatest singlenesse and in a manner a very carelesse simplicitie in theyr Religion as contenting them selues with the possession of the rich treasure of truth and for the preserving of it or them selues recommending those cares to God onely yet tract of affliction much miserie often over-reaching by subtiltie of adversaries doth finally purge out those grosse-witted humours and engender a very curious and advantageous warinesse in all theyr proceedings having learned by experience the wisedome of that Aphorisme that a small errour in the foundation and beginning of all things doth proue in the proceeding and end of them a great mischiefe As hath fallen out in these men who doe as farre here out-goe their opposites in all civill pollicies as in other places they of theyr religion are lightly out-gone by them Which next unto divine blessing which accompanieth good causes where wickednesse or wilfull witlessenesse doth not barre against it I accompt the chiefe reason of theyr present strength and assurance By theyr providence in theyr capitulations by theyr resolutenesse in theyr executions by theyr industrie and dexteritie in all occasions presented they haue possessed them selues of an exceeding great number of strong Townes and places there is scant any office or estate can fall void but they lay in by all meanes to get into it they haue their Synodes for theyr Church-affaires their Conventions and Councells for their Civill theyr people is warlike so will they continue theÌ„ Theyr onely want is of a Prince of the Bloud to grace them For as for Leaders a matter of so main importance they are still aboue theyr adversaries having besides those three of principall and knowne name sundry other in Gascoignie of lesse place and degree but in skill and prowesse not inferiour to the best In fine they haue learned the wisedome of Spes sibi quisque and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the contrary whereof before brought them so neere to theyr ruine But now touching the weakenesse of them of the Romane Religion in comparison of that strength which theyr multitude should promise much more may bee said First one great part of them are in heart of the Reformed Religion though for worldly respects they hold in with